Implement for root pruning and lifting seedlings



p 3 J. ,D. GREENER 2,173,742

IMPLEMENT FOR ROOT PRUNING AND LIFTING SEEDLINGS Filed Nov. 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor I Attorneys James D. Greener H) y a J. D. GREENER Sept. 19, 1939.

IMPLEMENT P 3 J. D. GREENER 2,173,742

IMPLEMENT FOR ROOT PRUNING AND LIFTING SEEDLINGS Filed Nov. 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor James -D.Greener Attorneys Patented-Sept. 19, 1939 PATENT OFFICE IMPLEMENT FOR. ROOT PRUNING AND LIFI'ING SEEDLINGS the free use of the United States James D. Greener, Brooklyn, the People Mlss., dedicated to in the Territory of Application November 30, 1938, Serial No. 243,174 Claims. (CI. 55-18) (Granted under 'the act at March 3.1883, is

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This application is made under theact of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30,

1928, and the invention herein described and claimed; if patented-,niay be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon. v I

I hereby dedicate the invention herein described to the free use of. the people in theterritory ofthe United States to take effect on the granting of a patent tome.

This invention relates to an implement for root pruning and lifting tree seedlings and is more particularly concerned with such a device which can be attached to a tractor.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a device of the type mentioned which can not only be attached directly to a tractor but which is also adjustable for regulating the depth of the pruning or. lifting blade by the operator of the tractor.

The following description considered together with the accompanying drawings will more fully disclose this invention, its constructions, arrange ments, and. combinations of parts, and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an em bodiment of this invention attached to a conventional tractor.

Figure 2 is a rear end view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the root pruning blade.

Figure 4 is an isometrc view of the. lifting blade.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 4 along th line 5-5.

Figure 6 is an isometric view showing the frame details of this invention with the lifting blade attached.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the lifting gear and blade holding assembly.

Referring with more particularity to the drawings in which like numerals designate like parts, this device is attached to the tractor 20 by means of a drawbar plate 4, said plate replacing the lower-standard drawbar plate of the conven tional tractor. A shaft I l is rotatably mounted in strap bearings or clamps i secured to said plate 4. Parallel blade supports 5, 5 are secured at the opposite ends of the shaft ll. Said members 5. 5 are braced to the shaft II by means of angle braces 9, '9, substantially as shown. The outer this sloping position by racks l3, l3

ends of the supports 5, 5 removably carry the U- shaped pruning blade I or the lifting blade 2|.

The base frame 1 is adapted to be horizontally secured on the tractor, substantially as shown.

and is partially supported by stanchions 8, 8 ex- 5 tending from the drawbar plate 4. The forward end of the base frame I is bolted to the tractor substantially as shown in Figure 1,

Racks l3, l3 are disposed on the rear end of the base frame 1 and slope downwardly toward 10 These racks are held in the front of the tractor.

means of braces I2 and Ill, .10. Two pinion gears l5, l5 are secured to a shaft I1 and are adapted to mesh with the racks outwardly a considerable distance beyond the racks I3, l3 to each end of which wheels l8-, l8, respectively, are secured@ Betweeneach of the wheels l8 and the racks l3 connecting links l4. l4 are biased to the shaft II. The other ends of said connecting links H, I4 are removably hinged to the outer'ends of the blade supports 5, 5. The shaft I1 is prevented from moving laterally with respect to the racks l3, [3 by means of two sets of gear guide plates l6, I6, each set straddling one of the two racks l3, l3 and the pinions I5, I 5. These plates extend downward and are secured together between the racks l3, l3

by means of bearing plates '22, 22 slidably con bottom of. each of said racks l3, I3. 0

tacting the respectively.

A ratchet 23 is fixed to the shaft 1| 1 between the near one of thetwo sets of guide plates I 6. 'A bracket 24 is loosely mounted on shaft I l on the side of the rachet 23 opposite the set of guide plates l6 closest to said rachet 23. Above the ratchet 23 between the bracket 24 and the guide plate on the opposite side of said rachet, a shaft 25 is secured parallel to the shaft ll. Said shaft 25 is provided with a hinged dog l9 adapted to register with selective teeth of the ratchet 23. By these means the shaft [1 can be secured in any desired position along the racks l3. l3.

The machine is adapted to use either the pruning blade I 'or, as a substitute therefor, the lifting blade 2|. The lifting. blade 2| has substantially. the same shape as the pruning blade I but it is provided with additional members, namely landslides 3 and soil-breakers 2, said soil-breakers being for the p se of loosening the soil around the roots.

The operation of this invention is as follows: The tractor 20 is placed over the'seed bed. The

dog I 9 is released from the ratchet 23 permit- 55 l3, l3, respectively. The shaft l1 extends l5 ting the weight of the blade I or u (whichever V is attached to the support members 6, B) to carry the shaft I! with parts attached thereto downward on the racks l3, l3 until-the blade rests on the ground. As the tractor is moved forward,the pruning or lifting blade is forcedbeneath the tree seedlings by simply turning one or both of the wheels l0, it until the desired working depth is obtained as illustrated by the broken construction lines in Figure 1. The desired depth of the blade is maintained by locking the ratchet 23 with the dog l9. When the pruning blade I is used the roots are simply severed but when the lifting blade 2! is used it moves forward on. the landslides 3 and not only cuts the roots of the seedlings but loosens the soil around the roots by means of soil-breakers 2.

Having thus described 1. An implement of the character my invention, I claim: described comprising a frameadapted to be secured to a tractor, a blade for pruning seedling roots secured to arms hinged to said frame, rack gears slopingly secured to said frame, pinlons meshing with said rack gears, a rod secured to and carried by said pinions, links connecting said rod to said blade, means for manually rotating said rod, and means for securing said rod in selected positions along said rack gears.

2. An implement of the character described comprising a frame adapted to be secured to a tractor, a blade for pruning seedling roots secured to arms hinged to said frame, rack gears slopingly secured to said frame, pinions meshing with said rack gears, a rod secured to and carried by said pinions, links connecting said rod to said blade, wheels secured to the ends of said rod .for manually imparting rotation thereto, and

along said rack gears.

3. An implement of the, comprlsingaframeadaptedtobesecuredtoa tractor, a blade for pruninglseedling roots secured means for securing said rod in selected positions character described to arms hinged to said frame,'rack gears slopingly V secured to said frame, pinions meshing with said rack gears, a rod secured to and carried by said pinions, links connecting said rod to said blade,

means for manually rotating said rod, and a dog and ratchet assembly for lockingsaid rod in selected positions along said rack gears.

4. An implement of the character described comprising a frame adapted to be secured to a tractor, a blade for lifting seedlingsand pruning their roots, said blade being secured to arms hinged to said frame, rack gears slopingly secured to said frame, pinion gears meshing with said rack gears, a shaft secured to and carried by said pinion gears, links connecting said 'rod to said blade, means for rotating said rod, and means for securing said rod in selected positions along said rack gears.

5. An implement of the comprising a frame adapted to be secured to a tractor, a blade for lifting seedlings and pruning their roots, said blade being secured to arms hinged to said frame, cured to said frame, pinion gears meshing with said rack gears, a shaft secured to and carried by said pinion gears, links connecting said rod to said blade, wheels secured to the ends of said rod for manually imparting rotation thereto, and a dog and ratchet assembly for locking said rod in selected positions along said rack gears.

JAMES B. GREENER.

character described rack gears slopingiy se-' 7 

